Chevy Volt Gets a Range Reduction

The Chevy Volt has been General Motors' centerpiece since the concept was first introduced. The Volt was supposed to be the answer to many peoples' problems with the short distance of traditional Electric Vehicles. However, GM recently went on the record to say that the range would be reduced, and it's not by a few miles.

Ever since being introduced at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, the Volt has had one major selling point: A 600 mile total range. By using a 160 horsepower electric motor powered by a Lithium-Ion battery pack, it can run up to 40 miles on a single charge. After that, a one liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine will kick on and begin to recharge the battery packs via a 53kW generator. The 3-cylinder has no direct connection to the wheels.

Originally, the fuel tank was going to hold 12 gallons and when combined with a full charge, the Volt could cover about 600 miles before you needed to stop for more fuel and a recharge if possible. This almost completely resolved the issue plaguing many of the first electric vehicles to be introduced. Now, the size of the tank has been reduced by an undisclosed amount and the final number has been dropped to around 400 miles.

Their reasoning behind the capacity change is to save weight. GM continues to argue that the average commute is still less than the 40 mile all-electric range and if someone does have to travel farther, it will still be far less than the 400 mile combined total range. Although this is a fair argument, the real question is: Will the drop in range ultimately cost them potential buyers? Since the price estimate has been fluctuating so much, some people may look at this and wonder what else they will be changing before the 2010 target release date. Opinions?

This was news 4 months ago perhaps, when the decision was made to delete one of the two gas tanks. The reason had NOTHING to do with weight reduction. Anyone who'd swallow that is simply not competent to write articles such as these. In the first place, weight is of little consequence in determing mileage foe an electric - aero and rolling resistancxe counts for much more; seconddly the weight involved is totally trivial - an average of perhaps 16 pounds in a car that weighs over 3200 pounds;
third - the Volt doesn't need any help either making its 40 mile driving range nor
its 50 MPG fuel mileage. Everyone who's been paying atention learned 4 months ago that the reason for the reduction was solely because of the concern that Volt drivers would allow gasoline to remain in the tanks too long. Several actions have been taken to try to eliminate this problem, the most important being to simply restrict the amount of gasoline that the system contain; the next was to pressurize the tank; the thrid was to warn the owner and perhaps automatically kick on the gas engine every so often whether it needed to run or not; the next was to warn owners; the next was to put a sign on the dashboard advising the owner to occasionally run the range extender, which IS NOT necessarily going to be a 1 liter turbocharged motor, as this article claims - that decision has yet to be made, yet another example of the almost total ignorance of this article writer. When you decide to hire someone competent
to write such articles, let me know. What total incompetence. No wonder the public is so Gd damned dumb.

First and foremost, there was TALK about losing the 2nd fuel tank 4 months ago, there was no final decision.

Next, nowhere in the article does it say that anything is set in stone. You need to get a life or a significant other or something. Whatever it takes to get you away from your computer.

Third, if someone forwards information, you can't blame them for what the source says. If GM says it was weight, then who the hell are you to say it's not. I'll bet they know more than you. Even if the source was wrong, how is he supposed to know? Do you want him to call up GM or whomever and ask about everything he reads? Idiot.

Finally, you need to learn how to spell and review your comment before you post.